Story by
Dolphins Q&A: Will Miami trade for Lamar Jackson; did Chris Johnson really whiff on a sack attempt?
- Story by
- Dolphins Q&A: Will Miami trade for Lamar Jackson; did Chris Johnson really whiff on a sack attempt?
Thanks for joining us for the 2026 Miami Dolphins Q&A where we'll respond to reader/viewer questions and comments from Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk .
Among the hot topics on Tuesday's show were the Dolphins bringing Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, a South Florida native, back home after this season via a trade. This idea was most recently floated by Michael Irvin, the Hall of Fame wide receiver and ex-University of Miami and St. Thomas Aquinas High standout.
Advertisement
Next year is the final season of Jackson's contract and if the Ravens aren't looking to extend his deal both parties could be interested in parting ways.
Q: We getting Lamar Jackson?? Hope not.— @cdola
I'd be surprised if general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley ditched their draft-and-develop strategy for the get-rich-quick move that comes with Jackson , the two-time NFL MVP and Boynton Beach High School product. Jackson is dynamic but my conversations with Sullivan and Hafley lead me to believe they'll stick to building a complete team in the fashion of the Past two Super Bowl champs, Philadelphia and Seattle, rather than pursuing the quarterback-heavy model of the previous Dolphins regime led by Tua Tagovailoa, general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel.
Related Articles
Advertisement
On the other hand, Jackson, a likely Hall of Famer, is a game-changer. And if Jackson was united with, say, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, another South Florida product having attended Chaminade-Madonna High, the Dolphins become an AFC favorite. However, I still think Sullivan and Hafley lean toward the draft-and-develop strategy. It's more stable and more foundationally-sound for the long term.
Q: Lamar misses more games than Tua. — @fitzgrass
Jackson, who might be out for the season with a right thumb injury sustained last Sunday, entered the season having played 46 of a possible 51 games in the previous three years. Yes, he's had injury issues but it's not a defining characteristic of his career and I don't think it'd be Miami's main objection to trading for Jackson. I think the main objections/deterrents would be the Dolphins' commitment to draft and develop as a rebuilding philosophy, and the cost of a Jackson contract extension, which might be in excess of $40 million a year even if he granted a hometown discount. Acquiring Jackson immediately shifts the franchise philosophy to "win now" instead of draft and develop.
Q: He's a superstar. Who cares if he's missed games.— @MrPolodadon
Advertisement
I hear you. Jackson is a difference-maker, game-changer, game-winner or whatever label you want to apply. Why hasn't he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl? He's had multiple factors that have prevented him from getting the Ravens to a Super Bowl including his own shortcomings, his own injuries, Ravens injuries, the Ravens defense blowing late-game leads, and being in the same conference as Kansas City and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo and quarterback Josh Allen.
However, the guy is legit. If you acquire Jackson, you not only enter the Super Bowl conversation but a Super Bowl appearance becomes a real possibility.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Would Miami be interested in Lamar Jackson? | VIDEO
Q: My little nephew was just born. What are the chances that he sees a Dolphins championship during his lifetime? — @deanrodriguez
Advertisement
Great question. What's the male life expectancy nowadays? About 75 or 76 years? The Dolphins are bound to win a title sometime in the next seven decades or so. For that reason, I'll say he's got an outstanding chance of seeing a Dolphins championship in his lifetime. And, to the extent it's also a numbers game, there's a reasonable chance he sees it in the next decade or so.
Q: If the running game is off, Willis has yet to show he can carry the team. — @CarlosMilanes
No, quarterback Malik Willis (six touchdowns, five interceptions, 79.7 passer rating) hasn't yet shown he can carry the team. That's not a surprise. He remains an inexperienced starter with 13 starts to his credit. However, you'd like to see Willis flash that characteristic sometime in the next month or so.
November is a transitional month. November transitions from what the Dolphins have actually seen this year to what they want to see/need to see next year. November opens eyes as far as personnel and planning for free agency and the draft. In other words, if the Dolphins don't see that Willis can carry the team they probably think more seriously about drafting a quarterback in the first round, or acquiring someone in free agency who could challenge Willis for the starting job.
Advertisement
So, while there's no immediate sense of urgency for Willis, there should definitely be a definite sense of urgency for Willis, if that makes, well, sense.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Did loss to Patriots signal a step back? | VIDEO
Q: The Lions are 29th in total defense and dead last against the pass. Will the Dolphins and Slowik take advantage of this? — @malbcrazy
You're correct on your facts. And I'm guessing that the Dolphins and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik are aware that Detroit, this week's opponent, allows 373.1 yards per game, including 276.6 ypg through the air.
As we just mentioned, however, there's no evidence Willis can carry the offense through the air if the run game is limited. Last Sunday, New England might have provided a blueprint of sorts by playing a good amount of eight-man fronts that were designed to limit the run game.
Advertisement
If Detroit does the same, we'd get to see if Willis could utilize wide receivers Malik Washington, Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman along with tight end Greg Dulcich in a way that could deliver a victory. In other words, could Willis, through accurate passes, solid reads and wise decisions, make those around him better?
Perhaps that'll be a deciding factor Sunday.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Dan Campbell returns to Miami | VIDEO
Q: Hey guys, do you see that this year's officiating is getting worse? Year after year? — @jewels
I see the concrete calls — offsides, illegal formation, illegal block — as being consistent. I see the judgement calls such as roughing the passer or unsportsmanlike conduct as being a bit more inconsistent and subjective this season. Look at the Dolphins as an example. They had edge rusher Chop Robinson get a controversial roughing the passer call against Mahomes, cornerback JuJu Brents get a questionable taunting call against Las Vegas, and running back Ollie Gordon II get an unsportsmanlike conduct call against New England for, apparently, something he said.
Advertisement
I think only Gordon had a clear violation, and we don't know what he said. I think Robinson and Brents both have room to question their flags. There seems to be a certain level of inconsistency among those subjective calls even though different standards are applied for each violation.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Can Miami win against Detroit on Sunday? | VIDEO
Q: Didn't Chris Johnson whiff on a sack or am I thinking of the 'Canes game and (cornerback JJ) Dunnigan? — @dedstrk
Yes, rookie cornerback Chris Johnson, the first-round pick from San Diego State, whiffed on a possible sack of New England quarterback Drake Maye on Sunday. We haven't asked Johnson, who is having a good season, about the play. Hafley said he spoke to Johnson about it but didn't disclose any details. I don't know Johnson very well, but I've known him to be a standup guy and my guess would be that he'll tell the truth about what happened as opposed to making up some excuse, and then he'll get on with his life and his strong rookie season.
